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Category Archives: Cellular

Apple: New iPhone–iPhone 4S now confirmed

apple Updates as of 2:45 p -

 

     Many things will be coming out in the next hour or 2 concerning the new Apple iPhone 5 and the rumored 2nd version of the iPhone.  It seems just short of the announcement from Apple (scheduled for 10 am PST), there is now 1 thing that can be confirmed

There will be 2 phones released by Apple this year. There will be an iPhone 5 (based on all the hype and information so far) and there  will also be an iPhone 4S edition (rumored to be the lower end / cheaper version).

 

     The iPhone 4S seems to now be confirmed based on the Apple Tokyo site (LINK) http://www.apple.com/jp/retail/ginza/#onetoone_browser_gettingstarted (http://www NULL.apple NULL.com/jp/retail/ginza/#onetoone_browser_gettingstarted)

which is now showing an iPhone 4S listed on its site.

 

image

 

The screenshot above has been translated to English via (LINK)  Google Translate (http://translate NULL.google NULL.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww NULL.apple NULL.com%2Fjp%2Fretail%2Fginza%2F%23onetoone_browser_gettingstarted&act=url)

More Information to follow -

UPDATE: @ 2:40p –>

Prices for the iPhone 4S are as follows:

$199 for 16 gigabytes of storage,

$299 for 32 GB, and

$399 for 64 GB.

 

There will be an iPhone 4 with 8 GB for $99. And there will be an iPhone 3GS for… free, with a two-year contract.

Preorders for the 4S start Oct. 7, delivery on the 14th.

 

Sprint gets it too! So a world phone on three out of four major networks

 

So it seems that there is NO iPhone 5 (Don’t believe all the rumors). The new iPhone is the 4S. The only rumor that appears to be correct is that yes Sprint will also have iPhones.

 

New Spec’s and additional information to follow –

Cell Phone: Ringtones from NASA (Free)

note  As a geek, I find the following info REALLY SWEET! NASA has released free ringtones using some classic NASA sounds. Even Rachel Maddow (from MSNBC) did a story on the NASA ringtones for her show this past week. I would do a full write up for this post, but I think the video from the Rachel Maddow show does a GREAT job explaining it. (Video starts with 41 seconds where Ms. Maddow talks about a satellite that was crashing down to Earth before talking about the Ringtones)

 

Video from The Rachel Maddow show on msnbc

    

The NASA ringtones are broken into 4 categories

image 

 

The NASA ringtone page (LINK) http://www.nasa.gov/connect/sounds/ (http://www NULL.nasa NULL.gov/connect/sounds/)

 

From the ringtone page NASA has the following recommendations

 

Ringtone Directions
Android (MP3 format) – We recommend downloading the most recent version of the NASA App for Android (https://market NULL.android NULL.com/details?id=gov NULL.nasa) for previewing and installing these ringtones. The ringtones option is found on the main screen of NASA App for Android by hitting the menu button on your phone.

iPhone (M4R format) – Please visit our iPhone directions for downloading and installing M4R ringtones page. (http://www NULL.nasa NULL.gov/connect/sounds/iphone_install_directions NULL.html)

Other (MP3 format) – Most smartphones can play MP3 files as ringtones. The process for downloading and installing ringtones to a smartphone may vary greatly based on phone, operating system, and service provider. Check your phone’s user manual or your provider’s website. Some providers may limit your access to ringtones not sold through their site. You can still enjoy the MP3 files on your computer.

Cell Phone: For those looking to get out of your Sprint contract without paying Early Termination (ETF) Fee

sprintlogo  I’ll start this post by saying that I’m a long time satisfied Sprint customer.  I’m not currently looking to leave Sprint to go to another carrier. Sprint is currently the only U.S. Cell carrier with true unlimited data, going to Verizon or AT&T will get you Data Caps and T-Mobile will get you Data Throttling.

With that being said, someone out there may want to get out of their contract because they are in an area without good Sprint reception, or maybe to get out of individual contracts just to get on a family plan, or a number of other reasons. For whatever your reason is (and the iPhone shouldn’t be one as its expected that Sprint will be offering the iPhone 5), you now have a chance to get out of your contract without having to pay the early termination fee.

How do you get out of your contract, you ask, well the reason is on your latest bill. Sprint has announced a change to the “Terms & Conditions” of your Sprint account. The following was on your latest Sprint bill

Terms & Conditions Changes for Consumers

Effective 9/9/11, the Administrative Charge will increase to $1.50 per line for customers that receive the charge. For details, visit sprint.com/taxesandfees. In addition, the Sprint consumer Terms (Ts&Cs) are changing. Please review them carefully at your local Sprint store or sprint.com/termsandconditions.

     Here is why this change is important to those who want to get out of their Sprint contract. In a different section of the Sprint Terms and Conditions…
(LINK: http://shop2.sprint.com/en/legal/…conditions (http://shop2 NULL.sprint NULL.com/en/legal/ NULL. NULL. NULL.conditions))

When You Don’t Have To Pay An Early Termination Fee
You aren’t responsible for paying an Early Termination Fee when terminating Services: (a) provided on a month-to-month basis; (b) consistent with our published trial period return policy; or (c) in response to a materially adverse change we make to the Agreement as described directly below.
Our Right To Change The Agreement & Your Related Rights
We may change any part of the Agreement at any time, including, but not limited to, rates, charges, how we calculate charges, or your terms of Service. We will provide you notice of material changes—and may provide you notice of non-material changes—in a manner consistent with this Agreement (see “Providing Notice To Each Other Under The Agreement” section). If a change we make to the Agreement is material and has a material adverse effect on Services under your Term Commitment, you may terminate each line of Service materially affected without incurring an Early Termination Fee only if you: (a) call us within 30 days after the effective date of the change; and (b) specifically advise us that you wish to cancel Services because of a material change to the Agreement that we have made. If you do not cancel Service within 30 days of the change, an Early Termination Fee will apply if you terminate Services before the end of any applicable Term Commitment.

So now you’re wondering “what do I need to do to get out of my contract”. Here are the steps required

- You need to call Sprint (by calling 888-211-4727 or *2 from your HTC EVO,  and select options 4, 5, 2). Online chat will NOT work for this.

- Once you speak to Sprint you MUST cite this specific fee increase (to $1.50) as the reason you wish to exit your contract

- If you get a Sprint Rep. that is uninformed, ask to speak to someone in retentions. The Retentions department are the ones with the most power and knowledge.

- This process must be done before September 30, 2011.

Even if you don’t want to leave Sprint, this may just be the excuse you need to speak to the Retentions Department at Sprint and see if you can negotiate a better deal with Sprint.

Information for this post comes from

John @ (Good and Evo) (http://www NULL.goodandevo NULL.net/2011/08/get-out-of-your-htc-evo-contract-etf-free NULL.html#more)  and  Scott @ (Slick Deals) (http://slickdeals NULL.net/forums/showthread NULL.php?t=3212758) 

Shopping: Deal on Extended Battery HTC EVO 4G and EVO 3D

htc-logo  One of the biggest complaints I regularly get asked about the HTC EVO phones (Original EVO 4G and EVO 3D) concerns battery life.  Unfortunately, HTC decided to use the smaller 1500 mAh batteries as the default battery for the EVO and the (not much bigger) 1730 mAh battery for the EVO 3D. Because of this, the battery life on both phones is less than a day and for heavy power users can get as little as 3 to 4 hours of battery.

I have a simple and inexpensive solution, that will get the average user as much as 2 days and power users at least a full day (plus a little bit more) of battery life.

The suggestion is to get a replacement “extended” battery. The EVO 4G extended battery is a 3500 mAh battery. The cost including ground shipping (when you apply Coupon Code – htc20phones) is $12.79 for the EVO 4G.

image

The HTC EVO 4G extended battery can be found at HandHelditems (Link)http://www.handhelditems.com/premium-3500-extended-battery-door-p-159471.html (http://www NULL.handhelditems NULL.com/premium-3500-extended-battery-door-p-159471 NULL.html)

The extended battery for the EVO 3D is also a 3500 mAh battery. The EVO 3D battery will run you $15.19 (again, you need to apply coupon code – htc20phones to get the discount). It has the same shipping options as the EVO 4G.

image

The EVO 3D extended battery can be found at HandHelditems (LINK)  http://www.handhelditems.com/premium-extended-battery-with-back-cover-3500-grade-cell-p-171410.html (http://www NULL.handhelditems NULL.com/premium-extended-battery-with-back-cover-3500-grade-cell-p-171410 NULL.html)

Both batteries include a replacement back cover for your phone.  As these batteries as just a little bigger than the batteries that come with the phone, the original battery cover does not fit.

Lastly, Both batteries have a couple of shipping options. Ground shipping for FREE, Regular Express (3 to 5 days) and Priority Express ( 2 to 4 days) for an additional fee (which is based on your zip code), but I recommend staying with Ground Shipping.  I received my battery via ground in 4 days.

Shopping – Costco has a great deal on the Acer Iconia Tab

image

I was walking thru Costco yesterday when I came across the following deal

- Acer Iconia 32 gig running Android
- Case for Iconia

For $429.99

As an Iconia user (16 gig version) for the past couple of weeks, this is a tablet I can recommend. On average the 16 gig version goes for about $400 ( you can find a little cheaper but you have to search).
To compare, at Amazon the 32 gig version of the Iconia is $449.99 (and it doesn’t include the case)

Software: Apps review for tablets (based on the Iconia Tab A500)–Pt. 1

android   Since the beginning of the Android tablets, the biggest complaint I’ve seen on reviews are things like “The lack of Tablet apps in Android” or “Not many apps that are optimized for tablets” or … well you get the idea.  My biggest beef with all these reviews is that none of them seem to talk about what actually happens to apps that aren’t “optimized” when they get installed on a tablet, or list apps that don’t actually work on tablets, or even list a recommended apps list for tablets. 

    So my goal is not only to list a recommended apps list for tablets (based on what is installed on my Iconia Tablet) but also list apps that don’t work or have issues on tablets.  This list I’m sure will be an ever changing list.

     You will find the link on the Android Apps for Tablets page (LINK) http://www.techgeekandmore.com/software-apps-review-for-tablets-based-on-the-iconia-tab-a500pt-1/

How To: Acer Iconia 500 (with Gingerbread) Root

acerLetters  I just became the owner of an Acer Iconia 500.

Acer_Iconia_Tab_A500

Specs:

  • 1GHz Tegra
  • 1GB RAM
  • 16GB storage (upgradeable to 32GB)
  • 1280×800 LCD screen
  • 2MP and 5MP front and rear-facing cameras (respectively)
  • built-in HDMI port
  • Six-Axis motion sensing gyro meter
  • Android Version 3.1
  • Kernel Version 2.6.36.3

     As an Android user (HTC EVO 4G) one of the 1st things I’m used to is rooting my Android devices. There are many reasons to root, and for me the biggest reason to want to root my new toy involves being able to install Titanium Backup Root (http://www NULL.appbrain NULL.com/app/titanium-backup-%E2%98%85-root/com NULL.keramidas NULL.TitaniumBackup), which (in my opinion) is the best backup software you can use on any Android hardware.

     So I started searching for information online from anyone who had steps for the Iconia root. There were many posts, but all of them has steps for the Iconia with Android 3.0, and they didn’t work with 3.1.  Finally I came across a post from sc2k (http://forum NULL.xda-developers NULL.com/member NULL.php?u=3377374)on the XDA forum with the simplest steps I’ve ever seen to root any device.

      I need to add the following disclaimer. Rooting (Jailbreaking) has its risks. While rooting is easy to accomplish on the Iconia Tablet, it is worth noting that you could potentially break your device and/or void your warranty. Please make sure you read and follow these directions carefully. You root at your own risk.

     The complete XDA Developers post and root download tool can be found at (LINK) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1138228 (http://forum NULL.xda-developers NULL.com/showthread NULL.php?t=1138228)

You will find a couple of versions of the tool, I used iconiaroot 1.3.apk (which as of 7/28/11 is the latest version).

How to root
1. Goto Settings->Applications and enable "Unknown sources"
2. Download the attached APK file
3. Copy the file to your Iconia
4. Install the APK & start the tool
5. Click "root"
6. Enjoy :-)

How to unroot
1. Start the tool & click "unroot"

Software: Google+ App for Android–Battery Drain Issue

google-logo  With the release of the (Invite Only) Google+ in the past couple of days, Google has been able to create a lot of Buzz (No pun intended to another one of the Google Projects).  Google+ is the latest attempt to go head-to-head with Facebook.

Tonight’s post concerns the 1st issue I’ve run into while playing with Google+.  I have an HTC Evo 4G that since I moved to an extended life battery (3.7V / 3500 mAh) lasts me 2 full days between charges.  That was until I installed the Google+ App on my phone the other day (It was the only app that I had installed in the past 2 weeks), and suddenly my phone lasted 5 hours on a charge.  So not realizing what was happening, I charged my phone, and again only 5 hours and I was out of charge again.

During the initial install, I didn’t make any changes, and installed using the default settings. So with the sudden and massive cut in battery life, I started digging and figured out the following

- There are 2 settings in the Google+ app that directly affect your battery life.

Once I made the following changes my phone’s battery life went back to what I was accustomed to.

1 – Open your Google+ App

image

2 – When you start your Google+ app, click on the Menu button on your phone. This will open the settings button.  Click on settings

image

3 – Once you are in the settings section, scroll toward the bottom and Uncheck the “Instant Upload” choice.  Once that is uncheck, click on the “Instant Upload Settings”…..

image

4 – This will open an additional Instant Upload Settings Options screen.  On here scroll toward the bottom again, and click and put a check on “Battery Uploads” choice.

image

These changes so far have not had any affect on my ability to use the majority of the features in Google+.  The only 2 things is that I now have to manually upload my pics to Google+ (Instant Upload setting) and I can only upload photos when the phone is plugged in and charging (Battery Uploads).  Of course, you can always uncheck the Battery Uploads choice, upload your pictures, and then check it again. If you choose to only check the “Instant Upload” setting, you get some of your battery life back but not all. In my case, it was 1 full day + 6 hours (approx.).

Of course this is a new App, for a project that was just released and is still in early beta and changes we can all expect that Google will be making changes to fix issues.

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